Send in the Clueless

By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: December 4, 2011

There are two crucial things you need to understand about the current state of American politics. First, given the still dire economic situation, 2012 should be a year of Republican triumph. Second, the G.O.P. may nonetheless snatch defeat from the jaws of victory — because Herman Cain was not an accident.

Think about what it takes to be a viable Republican candidate today. You have to denounce Big Government and high taxes without alienating the older voters who were the key to G.O.P. victories last year — and who, even as they declare their hatred of government, will balk at any hint of cuts to Social Security and Medicare (death panels!).

Once again, missing the mark badly. It's more like conservative minded individuals might hate what government HAS BECOME, and where it wants to take the country (welfare state lilke Denmark). America was to be a nation of limited government and individual freedoms. Now we have liberal individuals who want to use the tax system to administer their vision of "social justice"....